Week 7: Learning Communities -- and what a community we have!

Learning theories for the week...we talked about specific learning experiences and how to view them in terms of schema, context, and learning trajectories. I like this activity because it takes the (excuse me for saying this) banal and boring textbook learnin’ and apply it to not only real world issues, but real world issues that personally effect all of us in class. I think that this week’s subject is the most relevant given its links to community learning. All theories aside, Humanity is a learning community.

In discussing learning communities, we talked about the digital world as a learning communities. For example, sharing knowledge on the Internet. Moodle is our small little learning community. Google is a great gateway to tons of learning communities. We live in a special time because our learning and knowledge are growing and molding and building at exponential rates because the Internet breaks down the barriers that have separated us in the past. We have so much at our fingertips...

Similarly, we talked about the computer in general as learning tool...from logo to multimedia to HTML to today. The computer is a social learning tool. But how are we going to use it? We have made many strives, but there is a lot more to do. Researchers are looking into various ways to figure this question out. They bring their knowledge together as pieces to a large puzzle... How does the vast knowledgebase of the Internet play into this? How does Generation Y and their needs affect this? What will happen to our changing workforce?

We began talking about appropriate computer uses for kids. How early do you get them on the computer? How much time should they be on the computer? We talked about computer time as it relates to childhood obesity. The computer is a tool, but is it detrimental? They can’t write anymore...but is that something we should focus on. These kids live in a different world. We need to teach to that world. Kids now have different needs because they live in a different world. Technology is transparent...whereas for us we see the computer not the community.

The Blog is our own learning community...another nice little plug...

Funny moment of the night: Dr. Foreman mentioned she is going to summarize chapters from the textbook and move away from it a bit...this was met by muffled ROARING APPLAUSE. We all agreed that the textbook is dry and disorganized with inappropriate examples...maybe we are helping future 800 students.

Dr. Foreman changed the final project: instead of a final project, now a research project. Students are asked choose a topic, research it, and present it to the class. Instead of producing new knowledge, research and summarize existing knowledge. The form of the project is open: video, document, web page, etc.

After the break, Dr. Foreman “forced” us to visit other students ilearn entries for this week and comment on their learning communities and trajectories. This lead to a small group discussion where we further defined “learning community” and learning trajectory. It was interesting with my group because they brought in interpersonal communities and tech-based communities...there are several similarities, yet the tech community of learning grays out the line between various trajectories...one’s interaction with the community changes that person’s trajectory use by use. We had trouble really understanding and defining (especially finding an example of) outbound trajectory.
For outbound activities...we talked about passionate people having a real problem creating outbound trajectories, that is to say, it is hard to let go.

And then...we got to meet each other. As a refresher of people’s names and personalities, we re-introduced ourselves.

Mental Note: Try the Quiz on the top of Moodle!!! THE FINAL TEST QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM THIS QUIZ AND THE QUIZZES IN CLASS

In two weeks, when we meet again, we are going to talk about Gagne’s taxonomy. Learn the five different taxonomies and how to teach them. Then learn the 9 events of instruction.
- Pick 1 taxonomy and write a lesson plan using that taxonomy. This lesson should take 5-7 minutes. Make sure to apply the 9 steps. Group 1 will present lesson plans the first week back..Group 2 presents the second week back.

Mental Note #2: Don’t come to class for the next two weeks...if you do you are going to be very lonely.

Mental Note #3: And don’t forget about the Saturday classes. It will be in BH 170 from 9-5 pm. Bring FOOD!!!

Leslie Rule came in and invited us to the KQED Digital Storytelling Festival on Saturday and Sunday and Narrative Archeology on Friday from 6-9pm (using iPaqs w/ GPS for the storytelling).

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: Humanity is the ultimate learning community...and hopefully all of us are on the insider trajectory? Are we on a boundary trajectory?

Thoughts?


Visit the ITEC 800 website at:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~foreman/itec800/index.htm

Visit moodle at:
https://ilearn.sfsu.edu

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Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School